The Community

Settled in 1646 and incorporated in 1784. New London is a beautiful, New England town of 25,000 people located half-way between New York City and Boston Massachusetts. New London is 7.3 square miles and home to the United States Coast Guard Academy, Connecticut College, Mitchell College and a branch of the University of New Haven. New London is located in the Southeastern part of Connecticut on the Thames River overlooking Long Island Sound. We are extremely fortunate to have Lawrence & Memorial Hospital located in our community as well as Pfizer Research & Development. New London is also home to the Garde Arts Center which hosts a number of nationally recognized performing groups, Lyman Allen Museum, Ocean Beach Park as well as Athletic/Cultural, and Social Activities. Many of these organizations have formed partnership with the school district and send staff to work with students on projects or as tutors. New London's transportation center is centrally located and has ferry, bus, train and taxi service available.

School District Profile

New London Public Schools serves a student population of approximately 3,500 in 4 elementary schools (PreK-5), 1 middle school (6-8), 1 high school (9-12),1 science & technology magnet high school (9-12) and New London Adult & Continuing Education which is the oldest adult education program in the country. Our mission is to graduate students with the knowledge, skills, ethics, attitude and confidence in order to become contributing members of society.

In 2005 the New London Community and the school community ventured on building the Science & Technology Magnet High School of Southeastern Connecticut which draws student from surrounding areas. This project added a new dimension to the education of students in the area at a cost of $18 million. The new Jennings Elementary School will open in the fall of 2008 and accommodate 500+ students at a cost of $35 million dollars.

New London schools employ 512 committed professionals of whom 400 are certified and the remaining are support staff. The school district's operating budget for the coming year is approximately $38 million dollars. Policy is governed by the New London Board of Education, a seven-member elected body. The Superintendent of Schools reports directly to the Board of Education.

New London’s Mission and Philosophy

As with classic Strategic Planning, New London 2005-2008 plan is grounded in the district’s philosophy of education and mission of the schools. Those two documents state:

Philosophy: the New London Board of Education shall work with staff, parents and community members in developing and reviewing its mission statement, annual goals, long-range plan and student outcomes and shall be guided by the following tenets:

• the dignity and worth of each child is of primary concern, and we believe that each child can learn and achieve.
• the aim of education is to help prepare young people to assume a meaningful and productive role in school and society, which is a responsibility shared by the Board of Education, staff, students, parents, and the community.
• continual assessment of student achievement and ongoing analysis of assessment data is necessary to focus educational resources and refine educational strategies, curricula and programs to improve student achievement.

Mission: The New London Public Schools shall provide an equitable, relevant and quality education which enables students in a diverse community to make a responsible impact on society. It shall maintain a coordinated K-12 program designed to improve academic achievement and lead students to reason, solve problems, be creative, to become lifelong, self-directed learners who are knowledgeable about the world and their place in it.

This will be accomplished through shared involvement of home, school and community which develops, nurtures and reinforces the success of all who are part of the educational process.

To emphasize the focus of the next three years, the committee has endorsed a graphic representation of the key points. We think it is important for all stakeholders to know that normal operational planning and maintenance, building projects, and attention to community involvement matters will go on while the Strategic Plan prioritizes Literacy, Numeracy, Information Technology, and Leadership improvements.